Device for removing obstacles from drain-pipes.



J. A. MULHERIN. DEVICE FOR REMOVING OBSTAGLES FROM DRAIN PIPES.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 23, 1909.

Patented Oct. 19, 1909.

lUNITED STATES inrniwr curio;

JAMES A. MULHERIN, 0F ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

:DEVICE ron ILE-MOVING oBsTAcLEs'FRoM DRAIN- runs Specification of Letters Patent.

VPatented Get. I9, 1909.

Application 1ed January 23, 1909. Serial No. 473,793.

My invention relates to a device for appli-- cation to the drain outlets of sinks, wash basins, bath tubs, or other sanitary appliances,and through which a flow of water from a faucet may be occasioned for the purpose of forcing the water into the drain pipe to force therethrough, and more particularly from the trap therein, any substance that may have become present and acts to clog the pipe or trap.

F lgure I is a View partly in elevation and partly in vertical section of my device applied to a sink. section through my device, with the entrance tube partly broken out. Fig..III is an elevation of the lower end of the device illus'- trated as it appears when the device is bein used as a force pump. In the-accompanying drawings, A designates a sink having a drain outlet protected by a strainer B, and C is a drain pipe leading from said outlet. D is a faucet located above the sink. 1 designates the force cup of my device which is adapted to be applied tothe strainer at the outlet from the sink AL The lower portion of this force cup is preferably of hard rubber so that it is unyielding, while the upper portion 2 of the cup is of bulb shape and both the upper portion 2 and the contracted neck 1*? are of soft rubber, thereby providing for the yielding of this portion above the lower portion when pressure is ekerted thereagainst longitudinally of the force cup.

3 designates an entrance tube, preferably of rubber, and which is provided with a flaring neck 4a and a mouth 4 having a flange 4b and that is adapted to be fitted tothe faucet D and remain `lrmly in engagement therewith during the use of my device. The entrance tube has connected to it at its lower end a corrugated tubular coupling member 5 .formed with a flange 5a and a screw threaded neck 5".

6 designates a tubular handle interposed is a full, clear, and exact de-v Fig. II is va longitudinal,

between the upper end of the force'cup l and the lower end of the entrance tube 3,

this handle being formed with a head (1a' 'having a socket 6b secured to the coupling 6o member 5 at its upper-end whereby it is connected to the entra-nce tube and having con nected to its lower end the force cup by a flange 6a and -corrugated neck 6b, as seen in Fig. II.

In the practical use of my device, the` entrance tube is fitted t-.o-the faucet above the sink, bowl, or other sanitary appliance, and the force cup is seated upon the strainer at the outlet from said sanitary appliance, as seen in lFigQI. The operator then holds the force cup in osition at the outlet'by grasping the han le 6 and holding it in a vertical position whereby a direct flow of Water through the device from the faucet and into the drain pipe will be occasioned. If the matter in the drain'pipe which acts to clog it and which itis desired to remove '1s not securely embedded inthe drain pipe,

the flow of water, .produced as explained, into the drain pipeis sufficient to remove the obstacle therefrom by vforcing it downwardly through the pipe.v

In instances -wh'ere merely the flow of water through the device anddnto the drain therefrom, the force cup Vis placed in operation as a force pump, in--which event the operator by graspingthe handle G moves it downwardly and upwardly. with the result ofupon each downward movement causing the flexible upper portionl 2 of the force cup to be flexed outwardly to the condition seen in Fig. III, and causingthe water flowing to the force cup to be forcibly driven from 85 pipe is insuflicient' to remove the obstacle l r appliedto the faucet, and a hollow handle intervening between said entrance tube and said force cup. f Y

2. In a device of the character described, the combinationof a force cup' having a lower portion, 'a flexible upper portion and a contracted neck between the upper and v lower portions, a hollowl handleiitted to the upper portion of the force cup, and an entrance tube connected to said hollow handle and adapted to be applied to a faucet.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a force cup having a hard rubber lower portion, a soft rubber upper portion, a hollow handle to which said upper portion is connected, and an entrance tube connected to said hollow handle and vadapted to be applied to a faucet.

4. In a device of the character described, they combination of a force cup, having a lower portion, an upper portion and a contracted neck between the lower and upper portions, a hollow handle to which said -forcecup is connected, a coupling member fitted to said hollow handle, and an entrance tube fitted to said coupling member and having a neck at its upper end adapted to be applied to a faucet.l

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a force cup having a non-resilient lower portion, a resilient upper portion, a hollow handle to which said upper portion is connected, andan entrance tube connected to said hollow handle and adapted to be applied to a faucet.

JAMES A. MULHERIN. In the presence of H. G. COOK, E. B. LINN. 

